Catiline Trial Research Paper

The start of the Roman Republic's decline in 133 BC was marked by various factors, including the broad division between the plebeians and patricians, overexpanding the empire, and excessive government corruption. This trial, however, stands out as a pivotal event that significantly contributed to the Republic’s downfall. The outcome of this trial played a crucial role by corrupting and undermining the Senate, leading to the failure of checks and balances. Additionally, this trial deepened the divide in political classes, further destabilizing the Republic. The Catiline conspiracy trial, which happened around 63. BC was a notable event in ancient Roman history. Before this, Senator Catiline tried and failed three times to become a consul. After his …show more content…
During the first speech, Catiline feared every senator was against him and fled. During one of the later speeches, Gaius Julius Caesar, who was a senator, stood up for Catiline and offered the first-ever life imprisonment: “Do I then recommend that the prisoners be allowed to depart and swell Catiline's forces? By no means of a snare! This, rather, is my advice: that their goods be confiscated and that they themselves be kept imprisoned in the strongest of the free towns; further, that no one hereafter shall refer their case to the Senate or bring it before the people, under pain of being considered by the Senate to have designs against the welfare of the state and the common safety.” (Sallust: 51.S). Consul Cicero, a key figure in the Catiline Conspiracy Trial, played a decisive role in the trial's outcome. Despite Gaius Julius Caesar's offer of life imprisonment, Cicero convinced the rest of the Senate to execute all of Catiline's co-conspirators without a trial. This decision caused great commotion among the people and further destabilized the